Assistant city clerk Carol Anderson said it’s a “stretch” to say Cavagnero is violating city law.

“It’s just a matter of paperwork that’s incomplete,” she said.

Earlier this week, Traub told the Register Citizen the 60-day clock for the Democratic Town Committee to appoint Cavagnero’s replacement started ticking Monday, with Cavagnero officially assuming his seat on the City Council.

But that was when Traub was under the impression he’d have Cavagnero’s resignation letter in hand that night.

Traub said Cavagnero delayed handing in a resignation letter for at least two weeks, but indicated to Traub he’d have it to him sometime after Monday’s swearing in.

For now, until the issue is resolved, Traub said, the Democratic Town Committee can’t move forward with appointing a replacement, which, in effect, affects the board’s party representation. With Cavagnero gone, the Republican-dominated board’s control is further cemented.

Traub acknowledged the hang-up is minor, but said he hopes the issue is settled sooner rather than later.

“It is semantics, but it’s one of those stupid things,” Traub said. “I told [Cavagnero], ‘Just write it on a piece of paper, Paul. ‘I resign.’ It’s no big secret.”

This latest issue between Traub and Cavagnero comes two days after they had, apparently, patched up their relationship after the chairman accused Cavagnero of being “completely irresponsible” for detailing grade tampering allegations at a public meeting with few facts.

Just as much, the committee tasked with replacing Cavagnero is enduring its own fissures.

The chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, responding to comments made by Bill Battle that appeared in the Register Citizen, made it clear Battle is no longer, nor was ever, being considered to replace Cavagnero.

That completely contradicts what Battle said Monday, telling the Register Citizen the committee was holding a meeting Tuesday night to possibly discuss appointing Cavagnero’s replacement.

Chairman Glenn McLeod took issue with Battle characterizing Tuesday’s get-together as an emergency meeting, calling Battle the “biggest self-promoter in Torrington” and saying it wasn’t up to Battle to decide whether he got Cavagnero’s position.

Further, McLeod installed Jeremy Hinman, who ran for the board in the November election, as the frontrunner, adding Battle hadn’t expressed interest in the position until recently.

Former interim Mayor Gerald Zordan, a Republican, suggested to McLeod appointing Battle, the husband of Darlene Battle ­— a member of the Board of Public Safety and PTO president.

McLeod was asked if Battle isn’t being considered because of his meeting comments.

“There’s a right way to go about things, and there’s a wrong way,” McLeod said, adding the committee hopes to make a decision about Cavagnero’s replacement before Christmas.

Battle declined comment when told about McLeod’s criticism. Hinman couldn’t be reached to confirm whether he’s interested in the opening.

Traub said he’s under the impression Hinman isn’t firm on the position.

“That’s just scuttlebutt,” he said. “I haven’t heard anything official. That’s a logical choice. I mean, he ran for the board.”

Progress can’t be made on appointing Cavagnero’s replacement until the outgoing board member hands in his resignation. After he does that, a committee nominee goes to the board for approval.

Cavagnero did not return calls for comment Wednesday.

NOTES

A School Improvement Committee meeting scheduled for Dec. 11 was cancelled because it won’t have administrative representation because Superintendent Cheryl Kloczko must attend an expulsion hearing that night.

Cavagnero was head of that committee, so for the time being, it remains chair-less.

Traub wasn’t sure who ordered the cancellation, since he said he’s the only one who can, according to board bylaws.